A Dream Deferred No Longer

The legacy and dream of Martin Luther King Jr. lives on today but for so many African-American same- gender loving people that dream has been deferred. However, it’s a new year and it’s time for Black gays to reclaim their dreams and celebrate King’s legacy. When Martin Luther King Jr. marched in the 60s for the civil rights of African-Americans, he wasn’t marching for the civil rights of some, he marched for all Blacks. Side by side, straight Blacks marched with gay blacks and it’s important that the contributions of gays to this movement do not continue to be downplayed and overlooked.

The gay rights movement has been compared to the 60s Civil Rights Movement repeatedly and questions surrounding King’s views on homosexuality are constantly being asked. We will never know for sure what King thought about homosexuality, but we do know that he apparently had no issue with working with gays because one of his closest personal and political advisors was an openly gay man, Bayard Rustin. Rustin was is best known for being one of driving forces behind the march on Washington in 1963.

The fact that King worked with and trusted an openly gay man during this critical moment in African- American history says a lot. King must not have found Rustin’s sexual orientation to be a hindrance to the movement and he didn’t allow the fact that Rustin was gay to supersede his being Black and having an active role in the movement.

At a time when there were very few voices for their own causes willing to stand up, Rustin and other Black gays and lesbians had to put aside gay rights issues for the cause of the greater movement, the Civil Rights Movement and their contributions should not go forgotten or unnoticed.

When Blacks were drinking out of colored only water fountains and forced to use separate bathrooms from that of whites, the signs didn’t read "Straight Colored Only" and "Gay Colored Only." No. They simply read "Colored Only." Black gays and lesbians suffered the same mistreatment of Blacks in general and still had no voices of their own.

Flash forward forty years later to the vision of the youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leading a march in Atlanta to denounce marriage rights to gay couples. Attempting to further divide the Black community on the issue of homosexuality, Reverend Bernice King blatantly ignored the contributions of thousands of Black gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to the Civil Rights Movement. If that wasn’t enough, Rev. King and mega church pastor Bishop Eddie Long purposely chose King’s gravesite to bring attention to the march and their hateful message. It’s unfortunate that there are those in the Black community that find bigotry acceptable towards gays and use misguided ideologies to convey their message.

However, today is a new day and King’s dream lives in all of us, straight or gay. King’s dream will no longer be deferred for Black gays. We will continue to fight discrimination, homophobia and bigotry in our own communities, whether it be the Black or gay community. The gay rights movement does share common ground with the Civil Rights Movement, discrimination. Blacks suffered discrimination at the hands of whites because of their skin color while gays continue to be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and identity.

Gone are the days of silence in the Black community around issues of sexuality, we played that game and it cost some of us our lives.

We will never know for certain what Dr. King thought about same gender loving people. The closest person to him, his wife, has already publicly stated that King would have supported gay rights if that were any indication on what his views might have been. But you know, I am not so much worried about what King would have thought about me being a Black lesbian as I am about the direction of our community on this issue. Our community has far more important issues that need our attention and resources than discrimination.

I dream that one day I will be able to legally marry my girlfriend and have our union protected by the 1,049 federal benefits and privileges afforded to heterosexual couples. I have a dream that one day gay youth will no longer be kicked out of their homes and displaced from their families simply because they are attracted to the same sex. I have a dream that our community will address the issues of HIV/AIDS head on and stop this disease from claiming another precious life. I have a dream that one day my same gender loving brothers and sisters will be able to free themselves from the chains of internalized homophobia and that our community can move past the issue of homosexuality to focus on the more pressing issues of today like the never-ending war, access to education, jobs, healthcare and social security.

I have a dream that will no longer be deferred thanks to the vision and effort of Dr. King, Bayard Rustin and the few same gender loving voices that dared to stand up back when they could find no one to stand up for their own rights. That’s what we should be celebrating on King’s holiday, not only the man, but the dream and it does live on.

Jasmyne A. Cannick

Jasmyne Cannick is a nationally known writer and commentator on political, race and social issues. She was selected as one of ESSENCE Magazine’s 25 Women Shaping the World, one of the Most Influential African-Americans in Los Angeles Under 40, one of Los Angeles’ Most Fascinating Angelenos by the L.A. Weekly and one of 40 People Under 40 by the Advocate. She’s worked in the U.S. House of Representatives and at all levels of government helping to shape public opinion and encourage civic engagement while advocating for underrepresented and marginalized communities in the political arena. Learn more here.

What do you think?

Michael Ferree

Jasmyne,

I just read your wonderful article on the importance of remembering what Dr. King stood for and how it clashes with today’s evangelical mindset. You are unfortunately correct that the message of love and tolerance that Dr. King promoted, as did Jesus, is largely ignored these days in favor of bigotry and prejudice against gay and lesbian people.

I am a white 30-year-old gay man originally from Texas, but now living in Los Angeles. I will never understand what it is like to be racially oppressed because I am white, but I can certainly identify with feeling oppressed by society because of the fact that I’m gay. To make things more confusing, I’m also a Christian, so that makes the issue even more volatile. You mentioned the misguided idealogies of people in persecuting gays and lesbians, and once again, you were right on target. I must admit, I’m still trying to find the goodness in what these people are doing. What good can possibly come out hatred and prejudice? Where is God in that kind of thinking? I’m sure you are just as baffled by it as I am.

Anyways, thank you for writing such a important and truthful article about these issues. Today is an important day for all Americans, in my opinion. We must all remember what Dr. King accomplished and the noble ideals for which he stood. At the same time, though, I believe that people need to start both reaching out to learn more about their brother and sisters from all backgrounds, but also look within to their hearts and stop being misguided by groupthink.